JPH05345096A - Dry cleaning machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a dry cleaning machine having its structure simplified, which can immediately judge failures when a liquid temperature sensor 1, an inlet temperature sensor or an outlet temperature sensor for detecting the inlet temperature or the outlet temperature of dry wind fails. CONSTITUTION:In washing, when the detected temperature of an outlet temperature sensor is higher than 20 deg.C (step S1), and also when that of a liquid temperature sensor is lower than 2 deg.C (step S2), it is judged that the liquid temperature sensor is wrong because of cutoff. In drying, when the detected temperature of an inlet temperature sensor is higher than 70 deg.C, and also when that of the outlet temperature sensor is lower than 3 deg.C, it is judged that the outlet temperature sensor is wrong because of cutoff. Conversely, when the detected temperature of the outlet temperature sensor is higher than 40 deg.C, and also when that of the inlet temperature sensor is lower than 3 deg.C, it is judged that the inlet temperature is wrong because of cutoff.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dry cleaning machine for cleaning and drying.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a dry cleaning machine shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-144811, which performs cleaning to drying in a cleaning / drying tank, it is usually necessary to ensure a constant cleaning power throughout the year. A liquid temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cleaning liquid is provided so that the cleaning liquid temperature can be maintained at a desired value by heating or cooling the cleaning liquid such as a petroleum solvent.

Further, when drying after washing, dry air is supplied to the washing / drying tank. In this case, the washing / drying is performed so that the temperature of the drying air can be finely controlled to improve the drying performance. An inlet temperature sensor and an outlet temperature sensor for detecting the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature of the dry air in the tank are provided.

[0004]

However, if the liquid temperature sensor, the inlet temperature sensor, and the outlet temperature sensor thus provided are broken or short-circuited to cause a failure, it becomes impossible to secure a certain cleaning power. Drying performance is reduced.

Moreover, the above-mentioned sensor is usually constituted by a thermistor, and in this case, the sensor detects an abnormally high temperature at the time of short circuit, and it is immediately judged that the predetermined value is reached, and the temperature of the cleaning liquid or Although the temperature of the dry air can be lowered, there is no safety problem, but when the wire is disconnected, an extremely dangerous situation occurs. That is, at the time of disconnection, the sensor will detect a low temperature (for example, 0 ° C. at which the sensor can detect) forever, it will not be judged that the predetermined value is reached, the cleaning liquid will continue to be heated and become abnormally high, and the dry air Similarly, it becomes extremely hot and dangerous.

In particular, when the cleaning liquid is a petroleum-based solvent and is flammable, the concentration of evaporative gas in the solvent exceeds the explosion lower limit value (0.6 to 1.0%) due to an abnormally high temperature, which is extremely dangerous. ..

According to the present invention, even if the liquid temperature sensor for detecting the cleaning liquid temperature at the time of cleaning, the inlet temperature sensor and the outlet temperature sensor for detecting the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature of the dry air at the time of drying after cleaning, respectively, are broken. The purpose is to provide a dry cleaning machine that can immediately judge a failure and ensure safety. Furthermore, it is intended to realize this security with a simple structure.

[0008]

A dry cleaning machine according to the present invention comprises a cleaning / drying section for cleaning / drying an object to be cleaned, and a temperature of a cleaning liquid for cleaning the object to be cleaned in the cleaning / drying section. In order to control the temperature of the cleaning liquid, a liquid temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cleaning liquid, a dry air supply means for supplying dry air for drying the object to be cleaned after cleaning to the cleaning / drying section, and a temperature of the dry air are controlled. Therefore, an inlet temperature sensor and an outlet temperature sensor that detect the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature of the dry air in the cleaning / drying unit, and an inspection unit that inspects the output of each of the liquid temperature sensor, the inlet temperature sensor, and the outlet temperature sensor. And a failure determination means for determining a failure of each sensor based on a combination of inspection results of two or more sensors by this inspection means.

[0009]

When cleaning, each output of the liquid temperature sensor and the outlet temperature sensor is inspected, and a disconnection failure of the liquid temperature sensor is judged based on a combination of these inspection results. That is, when it is inspected that the detection temperature of the outlet temperature sensor is a predetermined temperature (for example, 20 ° C.) or higher, and the detection temperature of the liquid temperature sensor is 3 ° C. or lower, the liquid temperature sensor has a disconnection failure. Determine that

This is because in the actual cleaning operation, the temperature near the outlet of the cleaning / drying section also rises as the temperature of the cleaning liquid rises, and when the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor is above a predetermined temperature, the above liquid is discharged. This is because it is obviously strange that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor remains 3 ° C. or lower.

During drying, the outputs of the inlet temperature sensor and the outlet temperature sensor are inspected, and a disconnection failure of both temperature sensors is determined based on the combination of these inspection results. That is,
When it is inspected that the temperature detected by the inlet temperature sensor is higher than a certain temperature (for example, 70 ° C.) and the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor is lower than 3 ° C., the outlet temperature sensor has a disconnection failure. Determine that On the contrary, the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor is somewhat high (for example, 40
When the temperature detected by the inlet temperature sensor is inspected to be 3 ° C. or lower, it is determined that the inlet temperature sensor has a disconnection failure.

This is because in the actual drying operation, both the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature of the drying air in the cleaning / drying section rise, and the temperature detected by either the inlet temperature sensor or the outlet temperature sensor is high to some extent. For the reason above, it is obviously strange that the other detected temperature remains 3 ° C. or less.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A dry cleaning machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the structure of a dry cleaning machine, 1 is an outer tub which is a washing / drying section, 2 is a drum which is rotatably installed in the outer tub 1 and which stores clothes as an object to be washed, Cleaning with the drum 2 in this outer tank 1,
Each process such as liquid removal, drying, and deodorization is performed. 3 is a solvent tank for storing a cleaning liquid, that is, a petroleum solvent, and this tank 3 is a drain tank 3 for storing the solvent used for cleaning.
and a storage tank 3b for storing the purified solvent for use in cleaning. 6 is a pump for drawing up the solvent from the solvent tank 3, 7 is a filter, and this filter 7 comprises a first filter 7a for mainly removing fatty acids from the solvent and a second filter 7b for mainly decolorizing the solvent. There is.

Reference numeral 8 is a solvent cooler for cooling the solvent, and this cooler 8 is provided with a cooling water pipe 8a for passing cooling water. Reference numeral 9 denotes a solvent heater for heating a solvent. The heater 9 has a liquid temperature sensor 9a including a steam pipe (described later) for passing steam and a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the solvent.
Are arranged.

Reference numeral 10 is a circulating air passage which constitutes a dry air supply means for supplying dry air into the outer tank and further into the drum 2. The circulating air passage 10 is provided so as to communicate the outer tank outlet 11 of the outer tank 1 with the outer tank inlet 12 and the circulating air passage 1
In 0, the lint filter 1
3, a fan 14 that sucks and circulates the dry air in the drum 1 into the circulation air passage 10, a gas cooler 15 that cools the dry air in the drum 1 with cooling water and condenses the solvent gas contained in the dry air, and this gas cooler 15 A drying heater 16 is arranged to heat the dry air cooled in step 1 again.

Further, in the circulation air passage 10, an exhaust valve 17 provided near the fan 14 for discharging mist and solvent gas generated in the drum 1 to the outside of the machine, and fresh air is sucked from the outside of the machine. For this purpose, an intake valve 18 provided in the vicinity of the drying heater 16, an inlet temperature sensor 12a and an outlet temperature sensor for respectively detecting the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature of the dry air at the inlet 12 and the outlet 11 of the outer tank 1 which is a washing / drying tank. 11a is arranged. Both of these sensors consist of a thermistor.

The exhaust valve 17 operates so that when the exhaust port 19 is closed, the circulation air passage 10 side is opened, and when the circulation air passage 10 side is closed, the exhaust port 19 is opened. Further, the intake valve 18 opens the circulation air passage 10 side when the intake port 20 is closed,
When the intake port 20 is opened, the circulating air passage 10 side is closed.

In the circulation air passage 10, the drying air in the drum 2 is circulated in the air passage 10 by the fan 14 during the drying process.
This dry air is cooled by the gas cooler 15 to condense and collect the solvent gas, and then the dry air is heated by the drying heater 16 and supplied again into the drum 2.

Reference numeral 22 is a water separator for removing the water content of the solvent condensed by the gas cooler 15 and supplying it to the drain tank 3a, and 23.
Is a button trap for removing buttons and the like from the solvent circulating during cleaning, 24 is a soap tank for storing the soap supplied to the solvent during cleaning, and 25 is a steam supply device for supplying steam to the solvent heater 9 and the drying heater 16. , 26
Is a cooling water supply device for supplying cooling water to the solvent cooler 8 and the gas cooler 15. Steam and cooling water are circulated through the respective supply devices.

The solvent tank 3, the pump 6, the filter 7, the solvent cooler 8 and the solvent heater 9 are connected to each other by a circulation pipe 27 and a valve provided at an appropriate place to form a closed loop.

Various valves related to this closed loop will be described. V1 is a valve that opens to supply the solvent in the storage tank 3b to the circulation line 27, and V2 is the valve that supplies the solvent in the drain tank 3a to the circulation line 27. V3 is a valve opened to supply the solvent discharged from the pump 6 to the drain tank 3a, V4 is a valve opened to bypass the filter 7, and V5
Is a valve that opens to supply the solvent discharged from the pump 6 to the filter, and V6 is a switching switch for supplying the solvent that has passed through the circulation line 27 to the drum 1 via the storage tank 3b or the supply line 28. It is a valve.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a solvent discharge port provided at the bottom of the outer tank 1, which is connected to the circulation pipe line 27 between the solvent tank 3 and the pump 6 via the button trap 23 and the valve V7. Further, a soap tank 24 is connected via a valve V8 between the connecting portion of the valve V7 and the circulation pipe 27, and the valve V8 is opened during cleaning to mix the soap with the solvent.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a cooling water pipe for supplying the cooling water of the cooling water supply device 26 to the solvent cooler 8 and the gas cooler 15,
It is branched into a solvent cooler pipe 31 for supplying cooling water to the solvent cooler 8 via a valve V9 and a gas cooler pipe 32 for supplying cooling water to the gas cooler 15.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a steam pipe for supplying the steam from the steam supply device 25 to the solvent heater 9 and the drying heater 16 through the valve V10, and a solvent heater pipe 34 for supplying the steam to the solvent heater 9 through the valve V11. , Is branched into a drying heater tube 35 which is supplied to the drying heater 16. The steam supplied to the drying heater 16 is returned to the steam supply device 25 via the valve V12.

FIG. 2 shows a block circuit of the dry cleaning machine. Reference numeral 4 is a control device composed of a microcomputer for controlling the dry cleaning machine as a whole, and reference numeral 36 is a motor which is located around the control device 4 in a circuit and rotates the drum 2. Around the control device 4, the fan 14, the pump 6, the exhaust valve 17, the intake valve 18, the liquid temperature sensor 9a, the inlet temperature sensor 12a are further provided.
The outlet temperature sensor 11a and the valves V1 to V12 are located.

In such a structure, the dry cleaning machine sequentially executes the steps of washing, dewatering, drying and deodorizing. First, in the cleaning step, only the valves V1 and V5 are opened, the switching valve V6 is opened to the supply pipe 28 side, and the pump 6 is driven to supply the solvent into the drum 2 to the supply pipe 2
A predetermined amount is supplied via 8. Then, the motor 36 is driven to rotate the drum 2 for a predetermined time to wash the clothes.

During this time, only the valves V5, V7 and V8 are opened, the switching valve V6 is opened on the side of the supply pipe 28, and the drum 2 → outer tank discharge port 29 → button trap 23 → valve V7 → pump 6 → filter A closed path of 7 → solvent cooler 8 → solvent heater 9 → supply pipeline 28 → drum 2 is formed, and the pump 6 is driven to circulate the solvent. At this time, by controlling the solvent cooler 8 and the solvent heater 9 based on the solvent temperature detected by the liquid temperature sensor 9a, the solvent temperature is maintained at a solvent temperature (25 ° C. to 35 ° C.) suitable for cleaning.

Further, about 2 minutes before the end of the cleaning step, the solvent is actively heated by the solvent heater 9 to be higher than the temperature at the time of cleaning. This is to raise the temperature of the solvent to lower the viscosity of the solvent and facilitate the separation of the solvent from the clothes, thereby shortening the liquid removal time in the next step.

Then, while the solvent temperature is maintained at an appropriate temperature as described above, the control as shown in FIG. 3 is performed during the cleaning. FIG. 3 shows a program executed in the cleaning process incorporated in the control device 4.

Referring to FIG. 3, at the time of cleaning, the outputs of the liquid temperature sensor 9a and the outlet temperature sensor 11a are inspected, and a disconnection failure of the liquid temperature sensor is judged by a combination of these inspection results. ing. That is, it is inspected that the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 11a is a predetermined temperature (for example, 20 ° C.) or more (step S1), and the liquid temperature sensor 9a is detected.
When it is inspected that the detected temperature is 3 ° C. or less (step S2), it is determined that the liquid temperature sensor 9a has a disconnection failure.

This is because in the actual cleaning operation, the temperature in the vicinity of the outlet of the outer tank 1 rises as the temperature of the solvent rises.
It is apparently strange that the temperature detected by the liquid temperature sensor 9a remains 3 ° C. or lower when the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 11a is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature.

When a failure judgment is made, the cleaning operation is stopped (S3 step), and the liquid temperature sensor disconnection display is carried out on the display unit (not shown) (S4 step).

In the subsequent draining process, the motor 36 is rotated at a high speed, only the valves V7 and V3 are opened, and the pump 6 is driven to remove the solvent in the drum 2 from the drain tank 3a.
Supply to. All the solvent in the drum 2 is drain tank 3a
If the liquid is supplied to the liquid, the deliquoring process is completed.

Next, a drying process is performed. In this drying process, the exhaust valve 17 closes the exhaust port 19 and the intake valve 18 closes the intake port 20 for a predetermined time.
Is driven to circulate the dry air in the drum 2 through the circulation air passage 10. In the circulation air passage 10, first, the solvent contained in the dry air is condensed and removed by the gas cooler 15, and then the dry air is heated by the drying heater 16 and supplied to the drum 2. At this time, by controlling the drying heater 16 based on the drying air outlet temperature and the drying air inlet temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 11a and the inlet temperature sensor 12a, the drying temperature is finely controlled and maintained at the optimum value. To be done.

During this time, only the valves V2 and V5 are opened, the switching valve V6 is opened to the storage tank 3b side, and the pump 6 is driven to move the solvent from the drain tank 3a to the storage tank 3b. At this time, since the solvent used at the time of cleaning is used for the next cleaning, fatty acid is removed or decolorized by the filter 7 in the solvent.

Then, while the drying temperature is maintained at an appropriate temperature as described above, the control as shown in FIG. 4 is performed during the drying. FIG. 4 shows a program executed by the control device 4 and executed during the drying process.

Referring to FIG. 4, at the time of drying, each output of the inlet temperature sensor 12a and the outlet temperature sensor 11a is inspected,
The combination of these inspection results is used to determine the disconnection failure of both temperature sensors. That is, when it is inspected that the temperature detected by the inlet temperature sensor 12a is higher than a certain temperature (for example, 70 ° C.) or more (step S5), and the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 11a is lower than 3 ° C. (Step S6), it is determined that the outlet temperature sensor 11a has a disconnection fault. On the contrary, the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 11a is somewhat high (for example, 40 ° C.).
When it is inspected as above (step S7), and when it is inspected that the temperature detected by the inlet temperature sensor 12a is 3 ° C. or lower (step S8), it is determined that the inlet temperature sensor 12a has a disconnection failure.

This is because in the actual drying operation, both the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature of the dry air in the outer tub 1 rise, and the temperature detected by either the inlet temperature sensor 12a or the outlet temperature sensor 11a is high to some extent. It is apparently strange that the other detected temperature remains below 3 ° C. when the temperature is above the temperature.

When the failure judgment is made, the drying operation is stopped (S9, step 10), and the disconnection display of the outlet temperature sensor 11a or the inlet temperature sensor 12a is displayed on the display unit (not shown) (S11, step 12).

In the final deodorizing process, the exhaust valve 17 opens the exhaust port 19 and the intake valve 18 opens the intake port 2.
0 is opened and the fan 14 is driven for a predetermined time to take in fresh outside air into the drum 2 and the air is applied to the clothes to remove the odor of the solvent.

As is now apparent, the steps S1, S2, S5 to S7 in FIGS. 3 and 4 correspond to the inspection means of the present invention. Also, a combination of S1 and S2 steps, a combination of S5 and S6 steps, and S7 and S8.
The combination of steps corresponds to the failure determination means of the present invention.

[0042]

According to the dry cleaning machine of the present invention, a liquid temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cleaning liquid during cleaning, an inlet temperature sensor for detecting the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature of the dry air during drying after cleaning, and Even if the outlet temperature sensor fails,
Immediately correct failure can be judged and safety can be secured.

Further, as a configuration for making this failure determination, the outputs of the liquid temperature sensor, the inlet temperature sensor, and the outlet temperature sensor are inspected, and the failure of each sensor is determined by the combination of the inspection results of two or more sensors. Since each sensor is used for each other, there is no need to add a separate mechanical structure for failure determination, and safety can be achieved in the event of a sensor failure with a simple structure. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a dry cleaning machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a program executed during a cleaning process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a program executed during a drying process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Outer Tank (Washing / Drying Part) 9a Liquid Temperature Sensor 10 Circulating Air Path (Dry Air Supply Means) 11a Outlet Temperature Sensor 12a Inlet Temperature Sensor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cleaning / drying unit for cleaning / drying an object to be cleaned, and a temperature of the cleaning solution for controlling the temperature of the cleaning solution for cleaning the object to be cleaned by the cleaning / drying unit. A liquid temperature sensor, a drying air supply means for supplying drying air for drying the object to be cleaned after cleaning to the cleaning / drying section, and a drying air inlet temperature in the cleaning / drying section for controlling the temperature of the drying air. Inlet temperature sensor and outlet temperature sensor for respectively detecting the output temperature and the outlet temperature, inspection means for inspecting the outputs of the liquid temperature sensor, the inlet temperature sensor, and the outlet temperature sensor, and the inspection results of two or more sensors by this inspection means. And a failure determination means for determining a failure of each sensor by a combination of the above.